<p>Controversial legislator M P Renukacharya, who frequently raised revolts to step into the Yeddyurappa Cabinet, was finally sworn in as a minister in Bangalore on Thursday. Governor H R Bhardwaj administered the oath of office and secrecy to Renukacharya at a simple function at Raj Bhavan.<br /><br />However, Renukacharya is far from being happy. He reportedly rejected the chief minister’s decision to allot him the Excise portfolio, earlier held by Katta Subramandya Naidu. <br /><br />The Honnalli MLA is learnt to have told the chief minister that he was not willing to accept the portfolio as he has no “knowledge” of that department. <br /><br />He comes from a rural background and, therefore, he is “interested in providing housing facility” to the poor. So, he wants Housing portfolio.<br /><br />According to sources, Renukacharya had requested the chief minister to give him Housing portfolio even before the swearing-in ceremony. The chief minister has, however, given it to Katta as an additional charge.<br /><br />Raj Bhavan issued a notification allocating Excise portfolio to Renukacharya on Thursday evening. But the notification copy was not released to the media following directions from the chief minister’s office.<br /><br />With Renukacharya’s induction, the lone vacancy in the 33-member ministry has been filled. <br /><br />Renukacharya, best known for being vocal while putting forth his demands and his involvement in the Jayalakshmi case, seems to have more enemies than friends in his party. <br /><br />Meanwhile, several ministers and all the BJP legislators from Bangalore kept off the swearing-in ceremony. It is learnt that Ministers R Ashok, Naidu and B N Bache Gowda, among others, feel that the induction of Renukacharya would further tarnish the image of the party. <br /><br />BJP state unit president D V Sadananda Gowda and party national general secretary and Bangalore South MP Ananth Kumar, too, were not present at the ceremony. <br /><br />Renukacharya sought the blessings of the chief minister by touching his feet soon after taking oath as minister.<br /><br />The 47-year old legislator hit the headlines in June 2007 in the infamous Jayalakshmi case. Jayalakshmi, a nurse in Davangere, had filed a complaint alleging that Renukacharya had sexually harassed her besides threatening her with a pistol. The MLA had also threatened to show obscene photographs of her to the media, it was alleged.<br /></p>
<p>Controversial legislator M P Renukacharya, who frequently raised revolts to step into the Yeddyurappa Cabinet, was finally sworn in as a minister in Bangalore on Thursday. Governor H R Bhardwaj administered the oath of office and secrecy to Renukacharya at a simple function at Raj Bhavan.<br /><br />However, Renukacharya is far from being happy. He reportedly rejected the chief minister’s decision to allot him the Excise portfolio, earlier held by Katta Subramandya Naidu. <br /><br />The Honnalli MLA is learnt to have told the chief minister that he was not willing to accept the portfolio as he has no “knowledge” of that department. <br /><br />He comes from a rural background and, therefore, he is “interested in providing housing facility” to the poor. So, he wants Housing portfolio.<br /><br />According to sources, Renukacharya had requested the chief minister to give him Housing portfolio even before the swearing-in ceremony. The chief minister has, however, given it to Katta as an additional charge.<br /><br />Raj Bhavan issued a notification allocating Excise portfolio to Renukacharya on Thursday evening. But the notification copy was not released to the media following directions from the chief minister’s office.<br /><br />With Renukacharya’s induction, the lone vacancy in the 33-member ministry has been filled. <br /><br />Renukacharya, best known for being vocal while putting forth his demands and his involvement in the Jayalakshmi case, seems to have more enemies than friends in his party. <br /><br />Meanwhile, several ministers and all the BJP legislators from Bangalore kept off the swearing-in ceremony. It is learnt that Ministers R Ashok, Naidu and B N Bache Gowda, among others, feel that the induction of Renukacharya would further tarnish the image of the party. <br /><br />BJP state unit president D V Sadananda Gowda and party national general secretary and Bangalore South MP Ananth Kumar, too, were not present at the ceremony. <br /><br />Renukacharya sought the blessings of the chief minister by touching his feet soon after taking oath as minister.<br /><br />The 47-year old legislator hit the headlines in June 2007 in the infamous Jayalakshmi case. Jayalakshmi, a nurse in Davangere, had filed a complaint alleging that Renukacharya had sexually harassed her besides threatening her with a pistol. The MLA had also threatened to show obscene photographs of her to the media, it was alleged.<br /></p>
